British Empire Essay Questions and Points
Chapter 1: America
How far do you agree that the cause of the American Revolution was the introduction of the Tea
Act in 1773? (20)
Tea Act of 1773
TLT the American revolution as many patriots saw it as another example of violation of the principle
‘no taxation without representation
- Previously, the British had attempted to force the EIC to pay £400,000 in 1767 and 1768
in order to pay back debts from the 7-year war, which had put the British in great
national debt
- The Tea Act was passed in May 1773 to allow the EIC to trade directly with America,
enabling them to compete with smuggled tea. They hoped that this would increase the
profits of the company.
- The British hoped for increased duties from the American colonies as the East India tea
would remain subject to American duties.
- The Sons of Liberty did not react to this act well, with the refusal of tea landing in
Philadelphia and New York with it being sent back and the tea landing in Charleston but
the merchants not selling it.
- 28 November 1773 Dartmouth sailed into Boston, followed by the Eleanor on the 2 nd of
December and the Beaver on 15th all laden with East India Tea
- Governor Hutchinson was determined for the tea to land, but the sons of liberty and the
patriots were determined to make an example.
- 60 Sons of Liberty boarded the ships on the 16 th of December and threw 342 chests full of
tea overboard, which was worth £10,000
- This can be seen as a cause of the American revolution as the restriction and duties that
the British were imposing on America angered the patriots as they were violating ‘no
taxation without representation’, taking advantage of the liberties of America and the
ideals of independence that it had set out
- This angered the British who attempted to isolate Boston through the Coercive Acts of
1774, which were seen as a negative aspect by the Patriots
Coercive Acts of 1774
TLT: American revolution as the Coercive Acts were an attempt to isolate Boston and force the
patriots into admission as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party
- Included Boston Port Act: closure of the Boston Port from 1 st June until the money of the
tea was recovered and paid for
- Quartering Act: gave more powers to military powers to commanders in arranging the
quartering of their troops. Enabled troops to be housed in empty building and houses or
even with families.
- Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act made all those in government positions appointed by
the Crown and allowed the governor to appoint and remove most officials
- Impartial Administration of Justice Act: transferred all murder trial to Britain if deemed
necessary to prevent judges allowing patriots to get away with murder
- Followed by Quebec Act which gave political and religious freedom to Catholics in
Quebec
, - These acts were suppressive to the American people, but they were still able to organise
activity against them, which makes the Acts seem only partially successful. This can show
that they were not a main cause for the American revolution
Townshend Duties
TLT the American War of Independence because they angered the patriots, being in violation of the
key principle of ‘no taxation without representation’ and caused for the Assemblies to call for
common action and unite.
- Introduced in 1767 as duties on wine, glass, china, lead and tea
- Expected to raise £40,000 per annum
- It could be seen that the British did listen to the colonists that Britain only had the right
to regulate trade
- Massachusetts’s Assembly published denunciation that it was violation of ‘no taxation
without representation’, supported by several other assemblies
- Britain didn’t repeal the Townshend Duties, instead they suspended the NY assembly
and increased the number of troops in Boston to stamp out trouble
- Sons of Liberty revived and clashed with British troops for examples at the battle of
golden hill on 19th January 1770
- Massachusetts Assembly wrote a circular (Samuel Adams and James Otis) sent to other
colonies calling for common action. 1769 all but New Hampshire had organisations
pledged to boycott British goods. Committees of Inspection enforced non-importation
using threats.
The end of the Seven Years’ War
TLT: US W OF I because it was seen as the catalyst for all of the duties and acts put in place by the
British as the 7YW had left Britain in a large amount of debt
- 7YW had left the national debt at £133 million in 1763 and the cost of colonial
administration and defence at £350,000
- The debt interest repayments were at £4.4m out of the annual income of £8 million
- This was incredibly costly for Britain
- After the 7YW, Britain needed 10,000 troops to defend American territories as well as
other new territories. There were 80,000 French Canadians now to govern
- The British belief was that the colonists should contribute to defence and governance.
This led to the Stamp Act of 1765 being introduced which ignited all the upset of the
colonists
The Boston Massacre
TLT: The US WOFI because it was an example of violence and rebellion and America and was the first
of its kind. It resulted in an intensification of hostility and opposition to London.
- Begun on 22nd Feb 1770 when a man suspected on informing and loyal to the British was
trapped by the mob, fired on the crowd and killed an 11-year-old boy. 5,000 attended
the funeral
- 2nd March 1770: rope factory workers attacked British soldiers and running street battle
ensued
- The actual Boston Massacre was on the 5 th of March 1770 where a crowd of about 50
people with hard packed snowballs fired against the Gentry guarding the Customs
House. A soldier was struck by a club and fired. The other gentry joined in and fired on
the rioting crowd, killing 5.
- Following this, a propaganda battle waged between Boston’s radicals and British
supported.
, - Sept 1771, Boston Town Meeting created a committee of correspondence, which spread
colonial grievances around towns of the colony
- However, the Boston Massacre may not be a significant cause in the revolution as there
were years of calm after it occurred and the Townshend Duties were repealed.
How far do you agree that the primary cause of the American War of Independence was the
Ideological difference between the American and British points of view over taxation? (20)
Ideological differences over taxation
TLT the war of independence because such dichotomy created inexorable tension and a highly
volatile relationship
- Whilst the British demanded funding for colonial maintenance, the colonies believed the
British were illegally extending their power.
- Emphasised through imposition of Townshend Duties, which the British believed the
colonies needed for upkeep and defence. These duties covered commodities such as
wine, glass, china and tea. They were expected to raise £40,000 per annum to assist with
the rising national debt from £75 million to £133 million
- Contemporary American intellectuals were influenced by Enlightenment and Whig’s
school of thought and refused to accept the legislation.
- Hostility magnified with boycotts and riots, resulting in the British not repealing the acts,
suspending the NY assembly and increasing the British military presence in Boston to
ensure the collection of the duties.
Tea Acts, 1773
TLT the war of independence because Britain and the crown were seen as attempting to enact illegal
taxes, infuriating the colonies and colonial legislators
- The act was passed in May 1773 and would allow the EIC to trade directly with America,
rather than obeying mercantilist principles. This would enable them to compete with
smuggled tea and Britain hoped it would gain them profits through the American duties.
- It was passed following the British attempts to tax the EIC £400,000 in 1767 and 1768 to
help pay for post 7YW debt
- Committees of Correspondence denounced the British policies, calling for civil
disobedience and boycotts
- Dartmouth 28th Nov, Beaver 2nd Dec, Eleanor 5th Dec
- Tea was sent to New York and Philadelphia but was refused and sent back. Charleston
tea landed but merchants refused to sell.
- Governor Hutchinson was determined for the tea to land, but patriots and the Sons of
Liberty were determined to make Boston an example.
- 16th December, 60 Sons of Liberty boarded the ships and threw 342 chests of tea
overboard, losing £10,000
- Britain as punishment, placed Boston under military control to isolate it and enforced
the Coercive Acts
Coercive Acts of 1774
TLT war of independence because this legislation antagonised the colonists, provoking further
resentment as Britain was seen as encroaching on the liberty of the colonies
- Introduced in 1774, were rapidly branded as ‘intolerable’ by the colonists
- Quartering Act, Impartial Administration of Justice act, Boston Port Act, Massachusetts
Bay Regulating Act
, - Legislation alienated the colonists, who viewed Britain as showing no regard of the
moral or legal principles set up by the colonists
The Boston Massacre
TLT: WOFI because it led to an intensification of hostility and opposition to London by marking a shift
to violence in the previously diplomatic relationship
- By 1770s, Boston had an incredibly tense atmosphere, with many rioting against the
repressive British Authority
- Placement of 600 British soldiers in region in September 1779 intensified the situation as
troop baiting and tax avoidance were seen as patriotic.
- 22nd Feb, man loyal to the British and suspecting on informing on others was trapped in
his house by a mob. He fired onto the crowd, killing an 11-year-old boy. 5000 attended
this funeral
- 2nd February, rope factory workers attacked British soldiers, followed by a running street
battle
- 5th March 1770, crowd throwing hard packed snowballs at gentry guarding the Customs
House. 1 soldier hit by club and fired by club, joined with rest of the gentry. Killed 5
rioters including figurehead of resistance, Crispus Attucks
- Highlights volatile relationship
How far do you agree that the main reason why clashes between the British and the colonists
turned into a War of Independence was the failure of the Coercive Acts? (20)
Failure of the Coercive Acts
o Coercive Acts passed in 1774 in an attempt to isolate Boston as a result of the Boston
Tea Party on 16 Dec 1773
o Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act, Quartering Act, Impartial
Administration of Justice Act
o Followed by the Quebec Act
o Failed to isolate Boston as the groups and committees of correspondence organised
against
Role of radicals (like Paine)
o They introduced ideas that rather than seeking concessions and reforms from the British
in order to gain rights. They wanted to now seek independence from this and control
over their own country
o Saw it as absurd that a country as big as America was being ruled by an island
o Thomas Paine wrote ‘Common Sense’ which sold 12,000 copies, argued reconciliation
was no longer possible and instead Americans should look to the future and the
establishment of a new and fairer style of government.
o Joseph Galloway who argued colonies should accept Britain right to regulate trade in
empire
Role of the Continental Congress
o First met in September 1774, supporting views of Radicals, called upon Massachusetts to
arm for defence and proclaimed right of each colony to determine its own need for
troops. Committees of Safety became Committees of Correspondence who controlled
day to day running of America
o Met 2nd time in Philadelphia on 10 May 1775
